Oakland slaying sparks violent protests
OAKLAND, Calif. — Protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed subject by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer turned violent Wednesday death with windows stammering, fires set and train stations closed.
A scarcely any century protesters took the streets of downtown Oakland to condemn the shooting and call for criminal charges against 27-year-old officer Johannes Mehserle. Oakland police reported at least 15 arrests.
Mehserle is accused of shooting 22-year-old Oscar Grant of Hayward, who was untruthful facedown on the standing platform when he was shot and killed early New Year’session Day.
Protesters gathered in the afternoon at the Fruitvale BART station where the shooting occurred. It was peaceful at first but began to turn nasty after a splinter group left that site and marched downtown.
